The father of Brisbane NRL flyer Selwyn Cobbo insists his son, if selected, will cope with a World Cup tour to England next month away from family and friends.
The 20-year-old Cobbo scored two tries and was superb at left centre inside of Canterbury winger Josh Addo-Carr in the 64-14 win by the Australian Prime Minister's XIII over Papua New Guinea.
Cobbo had a successful, if gruelling season this year for the Broncos, which led to him making his State of Origin debut for Queensland.
He found nourishment in his trips back to his home community of Cherbourg, despite asking to be rested for Brisbane's round 24 clash with the Eels to get a second wind for the rest of the year.
There has been speculation he is not up to a long World Cup tour but father Shamus is backing his son.
"I would be happy for Selwyn to go. Not too many young fellas get to be selected on a World Cup tour," Shamus Cobbo told AAP.
"How could you knock back (coach) Mal Meninga? As the old saying goes, 'You never know until you have a go'.
"Selwyn likes to come back to Cherbourg because it is his getaway from the city life, so he can relax.
"In the PM's game I noticed that Josh (Addo-Carr) was always talking to Selwyn and giving him advice.
"The mentoring I really appreciated. Josh is such a good character and a brilliant footballer.
"Their combination can only get better. They played in the Indigenous All Stars side together so Selwyn is no stranger to Josh."
When asked whether he expected his son to be in the World Cup squad Shamus said he "put on a pretty good audition" at left centre despite playing right wing for the Broncos this year.
"Selwyn took some hard carries. He never did himself any harm," he said.
"He played Indigenous All Stars, Origin and the majority of the year for the Broncos and then the PM's game. Whatever he does in life, or whether he gets selected, his mum and I are happy because Selwyn is a better man than he is a footballer."
Addo-Carr said Cobbo would not be out of place on the Kangaroo tour.
"He holds the ball in the left hand like GI (Greg Inglis) and fends like GI. He is a true talent," he said.
"I thought his natural side was always on the left but the Broncos put him on the right. It was no surprise that he carved up (against PNG).
"No matter where you put him he is going to be a superstar."
Cobbo's rise has been swift and his tough carries have a back-story.
"Before Selwyn went down to the Broncos he was playing left centre for the Sunshine Coast Falcons in the Mal Meninga Cup," Shamus said.
"He's a left-side footballer. Joey (Andrew) Johns talks about that all the time.
"People don't realise Selwyn played all his football at Cherbourg Hornets at lock until he was 15 or 16 which is why he has all those big, hard carries.
"Then I took him to Gympie where he played fullback and then centre at the Falcons, but he's played all his junior football in the forwards."
